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Oberon was pacing, he usually did that whenever Arella left for a walk. He knew she never went far -he had followed her to begin with and even to this day would check her scent trail once she was alseep to ensure she had not met anyone else on the way- but still he worried. Worried that one day she would wake and see him as a monster, wake and decide to leave him.... or worst of all, find someone on one of her walks and simply run off. Yes, the idea of losing her was enough to break the fragile sliver of the heart that remained.

He looked down at the lantern hanging around his neck, both a curse and a gift, it hung eternally as a reminder of the blood and destruction he had brought to Arella's family but then it also screamed sanctuary around Arella, for with her mothers dying breath she had given them both a lantern, his allowing him to do her no harm as long as she donned her own. He had told her they where simply to light their way in the dark cave that was their home... another lie, another shame.... but he really did just want to protect her, love her, hold her, care for her....!

He heard a noise, his pacing instantly stopped as he watched the cave entrance, but his body noticably relaxed when the familar scent of Arella greeted his sences.

Eager as ever around her he walked to greet her, possessively nuzzling her neck. In many ways he suspected that she considered it an affectionate action when in reality the main reason for doing so was so his scent was inbedded in her pelt. A living warning to all those who may come into his territory that she was taken... owned by a beast.

Her question threw him a little, he had noticed lately she had become curious about everything. He wondered what that meant, but pushed his fear aside as he spoke. His voice its usual low grumbly growl, "You may ask. I will tell you the truth." If I can, he never used the word promise unless he knew he could keep it, like he promised he would protect her... he would! With his life if needed, taking the threat with him of course. He would even promise to provide for her, he had been doing so since she had been a basket.... but promise not to lie? He had been lying for so long that he wasn't sure he had it in him not to.

Oberon was taken back by her question, she was worried, he could tell it. It was almost like her scent would shift ever so slightly... warning signals went off. Why was she suddenly worried about appearances? Has she met someone today? His mind began racing with a thousand questions and ideas and rage so red began to flow over his eyes, it was a good job that the lanterns prevented him from harming her... he did not wish her harm.

As his mind was stumbling and desperatly attempting to come up with an answer and a reason for her sudden curiousity he watched her walk away. SHE WALKED AWAY!! Rage again. More rage than he had felt in a while, true he had never seen her walking further into their home as he walking away before but he wasn't thinking straight.

Then he turned he met her eyes, they where so sad and serious that it snapped him out of his anger and made him ashamed for ever considering her betraying him or causing him harm. No, she was a creature too pure and innocent for such games, he had protected her from such corruption.... from everything but himself. What would this angelic beauty ever do if she knew the truth? If she knew what he had done and that now his heart only beat for her. Her alone.

He walked towards her, unable to resist asking the one question that was surrounding him and consuming his very throughts. "What has brought this on Arella?" He tried to make his voice softer, less threatening.... though he was thankful that Arella had never considered him such a thing.

He wanted to be honest with her, but still knew not what to say to comfort her. He sat beside her bed and simply watched her for several moments before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. He would never have closed them around anyone else, but he knew this creature was too innocent to want to cause him harm.... no.... he was safe with her, it was she who was constantly in trouble.

Finally he opened his eyes and looked at her, her own sadness most likely echoed with his own. He would answer her..... "Arella, my dear, you are beautiful just the way you are. I would never change a thing about you." .....but still he could not bring himself to tell her the truth, that they where different because she was an angel and he was a monster.

Oberon was saddened by her answer, how could she ever see herself as a monster? This ethereal creature of youth and beauty? Yet even though she stood beside him, a true monster born of nightmares and horror she saw herself as a monster. Did the difference in their appearance really affect her so much?

Guilt, that was what he was feeling, guilt for never teaching her how wonderful she was, telling how much of an angel she really was. The problem was the Oberon knew very little about Angeni, he had never known one long enough with the rage to talk and ask questions. Only Arella. Only ever Arella.

"Never." Was all he said on the subject, she could never be a monster, could never harm another creature, could never be like him. She was too innocent to be evil. Too innocent for him.

As she moved towards him his spirits lifted, he embraced her, this time more for affection than because he wished for her to wear his scent. Yet when she spoke of changing herself he felt his anger bubble, did she not understand that she was perfect? That she needed to change nothing. In a growl he spoke one word, he dared not permitted himself more. "No," He nipped her hair, trying to ground himself back to Earth, back to her. She was in many ways an anchor for his control. Feeling more in control again now he elaborated on his order. "Do not change Arella. You do not need to be taller or have longer or shorter hair, you do not need more markings or a darker pelt, you do not need to change.... do you understand me Arella?" No, he would not see her tainted in such a way. Never, she was his!

Shiny? Pretty? Simple words and spoken easily but they still meant more to Oberon that he could decribe. "Thank you" he said before turning his head away from her, he was not very good at all this emotional stuff. Arella was the only reason why he was even attempting it, usually he would have just removed the head of the one trying to evoke such a thing and be done with it. Yet, he could no more harm Arella and then he could stop himself loving her.

Love? Was it really that?

"Agreed," Oberon said as little Arella requested her never change, the truth was he wasn't sure he could have even if he wanted to. In many ways he wanted to be better for her, he wanted to be the right kind of man for her... but he knew he never could be.

Her next set of her questions made him freeze, he could feel her warm breeth licking his neck as she snuggled herself in. He liked that she had never really feared him, always treated him with respect and gradtitude.... much more than he deserved, sometimes he wondered if it was a side effect of the lantern. Oberon knew that his could prevent him from harming her, even in a rage while hers was a mystery to him. What if it drew her closer to him? What would he do or feel if he knew she was simply acting due to magic and not because she actually cared for him. Oberon may only have a sliver of heart left but he feared it would snap forever if that was the case.

Deciding to answer some of her questions as best as he could, hoping that by some small chance that it may warm her to him more. "No family, no children, I do not remember my parents nor would I want to." If Oberon's tendencies where anything to go by then surely the parents he was spawned from would be worst than him? Or was that the reason they removed him from their life.... because he was darkness made flesh and they were innocent? No, he could not believed that a creature so innoncent... a creature like Arella, could ever produce a beast like him.

Yet, the fact that his innocent little Angeni was curious about him, about his past affairs and lovers had him wondering.... why?

Why now? Why suddenly after years of simply accepting his word as law, of doing as he commanded without question was she this interested in the way of things? Part of him wondered again if was indeed because she had met someone, yet she had not smelt like another which simply meant that they had not touched. Unable to resist he asked; "How long have you felt like this Arella?"

Trying to lesson his questions impact he added, "How close do you want to get Arella? I.... I...." He stutted, something he never did, not around Arella. Yet now, so full of unknown feelings he found himself unable to express himself. He forced himself to spit it out, he would not allow her to see weakness in him, no, he was her protector he needed to be stronger than anyone else.... he needed to see her as the strongest man alive.

"I am not a creature of the light like you Arella, I have done things I am not proud of. What would you do then? If I told you something you did not want to truely hear?" He moved his head slightly so he could see her, turning his body so it was beside hers now as he folded two of his four wings over her delicate figure. No, he did not want to see scorn or disappointment in those delicate innocent features of his.

When she spoke, with such hope and longing it made a smile -rare as they where for him- to his lips, he spoke with as much truth as he could muster, "If that is what you want Arella, then yes it will always be this way. You and I until the end of time. You are mine," He was a possessive creature, it was his nature he couldn't help it. "I will not let you go easily Arella."

That long? He could almost not believed it. When she was growing up he had always acted more like a father figure, or so he had assumed. Yet as she had started to blossum and come into her own she no longer looked like a pup in his eyes, but a beautiful and elegant woman that he wanted to possess, to keep.... he still had never hoped that she would let him.

Wondering what she would really think if he ever told her, told her that he slaughtered her entire family.... and laughed at their pain. Blood, rage, anger... three things that would always be part of his life. He looked down at the little lantern around his neck, it was powerful indeed. Oberon would never have imagined that he could have got this close to an Angeni before, to feel their heart beat below his wing, to feel their heat and acceptance. But Arella was not like most, no she was delicate, innocent, a creature to be protected at all costs.

Yes, Arella was to be protected, even from Oberon himself. He never wanted to risk a rage, risk harming her.... risking her life was not an option to him.

Then what she said clicked.... 'marrying you' she wanted to marry him? Oberon was only able to hide his surprise due to the many years of practising, or tormenting his prey before ending their pathetic exsistance. Yet still, she wanted to marry him? In that moment he wondered if he should tell her the truth of their past, tell her why she ended up in his care rather than the loving embrace of the mother he had slaughtered in cold blood, a mother that had used her dying breath to save her... to save them both.

He remained silent, not finding the words to her ramblings or for her declaration of love. No, he didn't know how to express himself, how to hold her closer to his heart without destroying her. He had heard a saying once, 'If you play with fire you would get burnt, if you play in the darkness you will get consumed.' He was both fire and darkness to her, and he innocences was something to be protected not destroyed.... could he control himself?

Eventually he said one word, "Together", in the future he would tell her more, but today... today was to be enjoyed, savioured and cherished. He could destroy both of their lives another day.

Taking his wing from her, shocked by the sudden loss of her heat and warmth but feeling less deserving of it he walked back towards her bed and sat at the side of it. He had sat here many times in the past, nursing her when she was ill, bringing her food and water when she was too exhausted to go herself.... but today he wanted to return to the days when they would sit and talk -ok, so Oberon mostly listened but he liked it. Liked the closeness of the act. "Sit Arella, tell me about your day." An order or a request? Oberon couldn't tell anymore.

Oberon smiled the best he could given his long canine fangs, he didn't want to come across as dangerous, to Arella he was more like a tamed mountain lion, instinct told him to attack but her control over him made him purr like a kitten.

Sometimes he wondered what she spoke about with the animals, maybe they were easier to talk to than him? Oberon had little concept about awkward silences, to him all silence was golden.... that said he enjoyed listening to Arella. He just needed to keep her talking. "What did the animals have to say?"

He didn't know what to say about her bath, had she simply done it to get clean, or had she done it to remove any scents? Yes, Oberon was probably just being parnoid, but that didn't mean could stop himself, his fear for losing Arella was VERY real, she could have anyone she wanted if she just realised how wonderful she truely was and came to the conclusio that he was corruption personified. He knew he was no good for her, yet he still couldn't bring himself to leave her.

Protect her. It was a thought that roared stronger than any fire in his mind. The lanterns compulsion?

"My day," he repeated as he contemplated his day. He has gone to the town, and hunted for meat and blood, "Collected food," stole her some fresh flowers, he knew she loved roses very much, Oberon liked the way the scent mingled with her own -the perfect compliment, "got you some more roses," and finally he had killed an intrudor -but he would make no mention of that. He would protect this pure creature, even from himself. "Nothing interesting Arella."

He nodded along as she spoke, not really interested in her words but liking the sound of the tones and variables as the swayed and lifted in the perfect melody that was her voice. That didn't mean he wasn't listening, being interested and listening where two different things -that said, he was interested in Arella, he had noted every thing that had made her happy since the moment her basket had hatched, and of coursed used it to spoil her. In many ways he knew by instinct that she would love to be in the company of others... but risking it, allowing her to fall into friendship with someone who would have intent to 'save' her. Selfish, Oberon was a selfish creature. If he had had any sence he would have let her go, let her be brought up surrounded by laughter and joy, friendship and others of her kind.... except, Oberon had destroyed her family. Destroyed everything she had been destined to loves.

Then she mentioned a big sister and his heart froze, she had had an older sister..... several siblings in fact, but along with her parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents Oberon had eliminated them without a second thought.... but a basket of white and petals, he had not been able to touch.

He was thankful for that fact, so thankful that his selfishness had allowed him to know such a creature as Arella. "And why would I share you?" Yes, he was guilty -but he had been guilty for this crime for her entire life, still he would not reveal it until it was time. Tonight was not the time. With his question he eyes her, a slight smile upon his lips. Yes.... Oberon was selfish.

As Arella's face lit up at the mention of Roses he wondered if she would be equally happy with the supper he had also managed to 'acquire' on his return for her. Oberon could eat fruit and vegetables like any other soquili but he prefered the taste of flesh and blood. Still, for her he would eat them, and for that reason they never seemed so bad. He had of course tried them when she was not with them and found he did not have the stomach for them.

She was thanking him? If only she knew... what would she say and think then? Forcing the thought out of his mind he instead went for a reply that was as honest as he could muster, "No, Arella. All that I do is to repay you for the sunshine and butterflies you have brought into my life. For that you can never be truely repaid." ....well, maybe if he told her the truth that would be a step in the right direction?